Six weeks ago, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers failed to convert a single third down in a 37-8 blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
This past Sunday, Rodgers completed six passes for first downs and rushed for a seventh on third down to help the Packers secure a 28-23 win over the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round.
Rodgers and the Packers have earned a rematch with the 49ers. To get to the Super Bowl, the Packers need the clutch version of their two-time MVP quarterback.
First, let’s go back to Week 12. On third down in San Francisco, Rodgers completed two passes for 14 yards, rushed two times for nine yards and took two sacks. Neither completion gained a first down. Neither rush gained a first down. The first sack resulted in a turnover.
The Packers finished the blowout converting 1-of-15 third downs and 1-of-3 fourth downs. Backup Tim Boyle was in the game when the Packers converted their one and only third down.
Third down has been an area of disappointment for much of the year in Green Bay. The offense finished 23rd in the NFL in third-down conversion percentage, in part due to struggles staying out of third-and-long.
The light came on for Rodgers and the Packers on Sunday.
On third down, Rodgers completed seven of nine passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. Six of the completions gained first downs, including five conversions needing at least seven yards. He also surprised the Seahawks with a quarterback sneak on third down inside the red zone.
– 3rd-and-8: Rodgers to Jimmy Graham for 13 yards
– 3rd-and-7: Rodgers to Davante Adams for 20 yards, touchdown
– 3rd-and-6: Rodgers to Graham for 27 yards
– 3rd-and-10: Rodgers to Geronimo Allison for 10 yards
– 3rd-and-8: Rodgers to Adams for 32 yards
– 3rd-and-9: Rodgers to Graham for 9 yards
Rodgers’ seven completion on third down, a 9-yard pass to running back Jamaal Williams, nearly converted. Williams got tripped up in the open field, but Rodgers gave him a real chance to break a tackle and get to the sticks.
Rodgers sneaked for two yards for 3rd-and-1, setting up Aaron Jones’ second touchdown run. Jones actually had two touchdown runs on 3rd-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
The beauty of the passing game on third down was the rhythm and timing. Rodgers got the ball out of his hands, on time, to receivers schemed open. Not every throw was perfectly accurate, but they were thrown with timing from the pocket. The receivers made plays, both on the ball and after the catch.
Graham won one-on-one matchups in the middle of the field. Allison made a tough catch over the middle. Adams was simply brilliant.
Third down can be variant game-to-game, and it’s fair to note that the Seahawks lack the pass-rush and players in the secondary to be a top third-down defense. Seattle’s defense finished 16th in the NFL in stopping third downs in 2019.
It’s also worth noting that the 49ers are a top third-down defense (second), and they feature both a devastatingly effective pass-rush and talented cover people at cornerback and safety. So the difficulty level is about to rise, and rise significantly.
However, the Packers talked throughout the bye week about finding core concepts and plays in the scheme. They self-scouted and found stuff they knew they could execute with timing and efficiency, and they probably threw out much of the stuff that failed during the regular season.
The quarterback’s confidence in the plan and synergy with the playcaller were obvious Sunday. Rodgers was decisive playing from the pocket and mostly operated within the framework of the calls. The Packers converted a season-high nine third downs and finished 9-of-13 converting third down, and it didn’t require hero ball or the quarterback improvising or buying time.
Can Rodgers and the Packers carry over that confidence to Sunday? Rodgers was consistently clutch against the Seahawks, and the Packers will need all the clutch plays they can get with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
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